Is the media disingenuous about media leaks?

Question

The media was very quick to go after the Bush administration about the leaks in the Valerie Plame case. Though they also went after the one reporter (Novak) who reported the leak they did not report on the overall problem of the press itself broadcasing and sensationalizing classified information. If they are going to come down hard on Bush for this (and if it was so imortant and damaging to Mrs. Plame), they should also come down hard on themselves for the whole thing.

Answer 1

I agree with you, but you will never get the pundits in the media industry to agree. You must understand that the news media (newspapers, television, radio and Web-based news) is actually entertainment and all are after your eyeballs (or ears). The more your eyeballs are busy in the media, the more the media's parent can charge for advertising. Sensational news is what gets people watching and reading, so the media organizations hype everything into a crisis and reveal information that should be kept secret to protect lives.

However, most media pundits will never consider that they themselves are part of the problem. The most sensational among them get the best ratings and are rewarded with huge contracts. This encourages the very behavior that causes secrets to be revealed and the naming of every situation as a "crisis."

Answer 2

The media's job is to tell people things the people want to hear.

In the cases mentioned above, the issue was whether the govt broke the law or otherwise did something unethical or harmful.

Why should the media come down hard on themselves for doing their job, which is spreading inforamtion to the public.

Answer 3

Good point. I agree. The media has become irresponsible and sensationalistic.